Recording attachment for pianos.



S. L. DICKINSON.

RECORDING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1912.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'INVENTOR ATTOR N EYS THE NORRIS PETERS c0, PHOTO'LITHG" wAsHlrvn rnN. D. cv

S. L. DICKINSON.

RECORDING ATTACHMENT FOB PIANOS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 13, 1912.

1,126,724. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w TNESSES: INVENTOR f Y xx xkkmw, hW BY TToRNEv.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. c

UNlTED STATES PATENT @FFltQhl.

SAMUEL L. DICKINSON, OF CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY.

RECORDING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

Application filed January 13. 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, SAMUEL L. DICKIN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cranford, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Recording Attachments for Pianos, of which the follow-in? is a specification.

This lDCQIltlOIl relates to recording attachments for keyboard musical instruments and is directed to the provision of means whereby a record is obtained of the strength with which the various notes are sounded when operating the piano manually. l fith the aid of such a record it is possible to obtain a mechanical reproduction of a selection which is much more faithful than those heretofore obtained, for the reason that not only are the proper keys struck and held down the proper length of time but also the several keys are struck with varying degrees of strength.

In accordance with the invention. 1 provide a piano with a suitable record-receiving device and means for moving this while the piano is being operated. in combination with this device. a plurality of recorders are employed. one for each of the keys of the piano and each arranged to be operated when the correspondingkey of the piano is strucl. 1V hen a key is struck. its recorder is actuated to engage the surface of the record-receiving device with a force commensurate with the strength of the blow of the corresponding hammer on the coactin string of the piano and thereby makes a record of the strength of the blow.

1n the preferred embodiment of the invention. a device presenting a curved surface is employed. such for instance as a cylinder. and this is arranged to be rotated during the operation of the piano. The cylinder preferably has a surface which may be indented by the recorders: for this purpose it may be provided with a waxy coating into which the recorder will penetrate a distanceincreasing with the force applied to the recorder by the key. After the record has been made in this way during the manual operation ofthe piano. suitable indices may be applied to the record. these being arranged to co-act with the indentations in the record to show the depth of the indentations and thereby indicate the strength of the blows on the keys. By means of these indications a music-sheet may be suitably Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Serial No. 671,011.

marked or cut to accord with the indications so that when rendering the selection recorded on the music-sheet the various notes may be struck with the proper strength.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of a piano and record cylinder. Fig. 2 is a front View of the cylinder, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the indicator device and Fig. 1 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2. the invention is here shown as employed in a grand piano the strings 1 of which are arranged horizontally. The keys are shown at 2. they being fulcrumed upon the balance-rail 3. Each key when depressed operates a hammer 4 pivotally mounted at 5 upon a bracket 6. The piano-action illustrated is one now in common use and need not be t escribed in detail. hen the key 2 is struck. the hammer t is thrown upwardly so that it engages the strinp' 1 and then drops backwardly a short distance to a position in which. it is supported by the back-check 7. hen the hammer is thrown up, the damper S is raised by means of tie dan'iper-wire 9 passing through a guide 10. The piano thus constructed is provided with a plurality of recorders 11, one for each key of the piano and each arranged to be vertically movable in a guide 12. The lower ends of these recorders normally proiect a short distance below the corresponding strings 1. At its upper end each recorder is conically formed as shown at 13. Mounted above the strings is a record-cylinder 1 1. The surface of this cylinder is provided with a coating of a material such as can readily be indented by the recorders 13. This material may be a soft wax-like coating. The cylinder 14 is journaled for rotation in suitable bearings and is rotated while the piano is being actuated manually. Any suitable means may be provided for this purpose: in the drawinss 1 have shown a sprocket 15 on the shaft of the cylinder and a chain 16 running on this sprocket. Preferably the cylinder 14 is arranged for axial movement coincident with its rotation. For this purpose a thread 17 may be provided upon the shaft 18 of the cylinder and a stationary stud 19 may be provided entering this thread so that when the cylinder is rotated the stud 19 will cause the cylinder to move axially. By giving the cylinder such an axial movement the record may include several convolutions for each key of the piano. As thus constructed the cylinder 14- is rotated at a uniform speed while the piano is operated and as each key of the piano is struck the hammer i, corresponding to that key, is thrown upwardly, engages the corresponding recorder 11 and moves the recorder upwardly with a force proportional to the force of the blow of the hammer upon the corresponding string. The recorder when so raised, engages the cylinder 14L with its conical end 13 and indents the cylinder to a depth increasing with the force with which the recorder was moved upwardly. As the cylinder is rotated it is moved axially so that the line of indentations made'by any one recorder extends several times around the surface of the cylinder. Thus, referring to Fig. 2, the indentations 20, 21 and 22 were made by adjacent recorders 11 corresponding to adjacent keys 2, but the indentations 23 were all made by the same recorder 11 during successive revolutions of the cylinder 14.

When a record has been prepared in the manner indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, it may be utilized in any suitable manner in order to indicate the depth of the indentations and hence the strength applied to the several keys when playing the piano. In doing so, the record may be retained in its original position in the piano or it may be placed in a separate supporting frame. Also, if desired, the surface of the record may be strengthened in any suitable manner preparatory to utilizing the cylinder to give the indications; thus, the surface of the record after receiving the indentations may be coated with a very thin coating, as for instance, by rendering it electroconductive and then electro-plating thereon.

Figs. 3 and t show the cylindrical record arranged for giving the indications of the strength with which the keys were operated. The cylinder 14: is shown as mounted for rotation and axial movement in a suitable supporting frame. On this frame is a bar 24 having a plurality of upwardlyextending standards 25 each of which forms a pivotal support for an indicator 26. One of the indicators 26 is provided for each of the keys of the piano and hence for each of the helical lines of indentations on the surface of the record 14. To each indicator 26 is pivotally connected a member 27 having a conical lower end adapted to ride on the surface of the cylinder 14; and enter the indentations therein. As themember 27 rides into and out of the indentations, the indicator 26 is swung about-its pivotal connection to the standard 25 and the opposite end of the indicator moves back and forth over a scaleplate 28 suitably supportedtupon the frame '29. I This scale-plate may be divided off in any suitable manner. In Fig. 4 it is shown as divided into major divisions of soundgradations and each of these major divisions may be further sub-divided to any extent desired. The frame supporting the cylinder 1% is also arranged to support the musicsheet. At 30 is shown a roll on which the music-sheet is wound and at 31 is a roll from which the sheet is unwound. Between these two is a roll 32 over which the sheet passes, and adjacent to this is a guide or plate 33. The roll 30 and the cylinder 14 are arranged to be rotated simultaneously in any suitable manner. I have shown a handle 3s applied to the roll 30 and a chain 25 running on sprockets, one'mounted upon the shaft of the roll 30 and the other mounted on the shaft of the cylinder lat. These parts are so constructed that as any member 27 rides into an indentation on the cylinder 1-1 corresponding to a particular note in the selection, the opening in the musicsheet 36 which corresponds to that note will come to the edge of the plate 33 adjacent to the roll the operator can then read the indication of the indicator 26 on the scale-plate and note on the recordsheet in any suitable manner, as by a mark on the sheet or a suitable opening through the sheet, the strength with which the particular note was struck. In this way the musicsheet can be made complete as to the sec cession in which the keys were struck and the length of time during which each key was held depressed and the force applied to each key when it was struck. ith such a record it is possible to obtain a mechanical reproduction of a selection which follows the manual rendition of that selection much more faithfully than has been possible when following the methods heretofore commonly employed.

The devices and the method of procedure above described may be varied in many respects without departing from the spirit of my invention, and all such modifications I consider within the scope of my invention and aim to cover them by the terms of the claims appended hereto.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a musical instrument having keys, strings and hammers actuated by the keys to strike the strings, of a record-receiving member, means for moving the member as the instrument is operated and a series of recorders, each corresponding to but disconnected from a hammer, the recorders being mounted in cooperative relation to the hammers and to said member so that they will be moved by the hammers when the latter are actuated by the keys and when so moved will engage said member with a force increasing with the force of the blow of the corresponding hammer upon its string, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a musical instrument having keys, strings and hammers actuated by the keys to strike the strings, of a record-receiving member adapted to be indented, means for moving the member as the instrument is operated, and a series of recorders, one corresponding to each hammer and each having a tapered end adapted to contact with and indent said member, said recorders being so arranged that any hammer when actuated by its key will actuate the corresponding recorder to cause the latter to contact with said member with a force increasing with the force of the blow of the hammer on the corresponding string, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a keyboard musical instrument having strings arranged horizontally, and hammers each operated by a key, with a plurality of recorders vertically arranged and each disconnected from but adapted to be engaged by a hammer and raised vertically thereby with a force increasing with the strength of the blow on the corresponding key, and a record-receiving member above the strings engaged by the recorders when so raised, substantially as set forth.

a. The combination with a musical instrument having keys, strings and hammers actuated by the keys to strike the strings, of a record-receiving member, means for moving the member as the instrument is operated and a series of recorders, one for each hammer, each mounted in the path of movement of a hammer so as to be engaged and moved thereby when the hammer is operated by a key and each arranged adjacent to said record-receiving member so that when moved by a hammer, it will engage said member; substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a keyboard musical instrument, of a record-receiving member adapted to be indented, means for moving the member as the instrument is operated, and a series of recorders, one for each key in the keyboard, operated by the depression of the keys to cause them to in dent said member an amount increasing with the strength of the blow on the key, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a keyboard musical instrument, of a record-receiving member having a curved surface adapted to be indented, means for rotating the member as the instrument is operated, and a series of recorders, one for each key of the keyboard, located adjacent to the curved surface of said member and each operated by the depression of the corresponding key for actuating the recorder to cause it to indent said member an amount increasing with the strength of the blow on the key, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a keyboard musical instrument, of a cylinder adapted to be indented, means for rotating the cylinder and moving it axially as the instrument is operated, and a series of recorders, one for each key of the keyboard, arranged adjacent to the cylinder, the depression of any key causing the corresponding recorder to indent the cylinder to a depth increasing with the strength of the blow on the key, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 8th day of January, 1912.

SAMUEL L. DICKINSON. lVitnesses:

J osnrrr F. CoLLINs, I. MCINTOSI-I.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

